Shawn Payne is a supporting character in Cobra Kai.
He is Robby Keene's former bully in juvenile detention who was sentenced for attacking a former friend to defend his younger sibling Kenny. However, he and Robby end up parting ways on decent terms with a newfound respect for each other.
He is potrayed by Okea Eme-Akwari.
Personality[]
Shawn is shown to be a violent, rude, ruthless and highly dangerous inmate who bullies other prisoners with sadistic pleasure. He also takes it upon himself to make Robby's life hell in the correctional in any way possible, such as pestering him about his problems with Sam and Johnny, vandalizing his belongings, or hitting him. He eventually leaves Robby alone when they both respect each other for not giving each other away when they both had a fight. Shawn seems to have a sense of family loyalty too, as he protected his younger brother Kenny from an former friend who had broken into his house, which is why he was sent to juvie.
Biography[]
Season 3[]
In the juvenile detention center, Shawn eventually sets his sights on Robby after he defends an inmate, later mocking his relationship problems with Sam and Johnny, taking his pillow, ripping his book apart, and unplugging a computer as well as beating up Robby only with the help of two other guys. After security splits up a second fight between the two which Robby wins instead, he and Robby show mutual respect towards each other for not snitching on each other.
Season 4[]
After his younger brother Kenny is harassed and cyberbullied at school, Shawn suggests that he look for Robby for assistance. Kenny tells Robby that Shawn has to spend an extra month at juvenile hall for spitting at a guard, and also reveals that Shawn was detained after assaulting a former friend who stole from their parents and attempted to attack him at home. Robby indirectly mentions Shawn unplugging his computer by jokingly asking Kenny if Shawn spit at a guard for the computer lab.
Season 6[]
When Shawn discovers Robby left Cobra Kai with Kenny still in it, he decides to take Kenny under his wing, and tells Robby to stay away from him. This leads to Robby, Miguel, Tory, and Sam fighting the two brothers; Shawn sees security coming, and tells Kenny they have to leave, not wanting Kenny to be arrested.
After the fight, Shawn reveals he sees Cobra Kai's motto of "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy" for what it really is. He then tells Kenny he saw the look in Kenny's eyes, and it was the same one which caused Shawn to end up in juvie, and warns Kenny that if he keeps going down that road, that's where he'll end up too; Kenny stops and looks at him, realizing his older brother is right. When Shawn tells Kenny he's becoming a man now, and it's time for him to decide the kind of man he wants to be, as well as the kind of man he would want their father to come home to after his military tour, Kenny admits he doesn't know who he wants to be, and doesn't even know who he is anymore. Shawn hugs him and tells him it's all right and they'll figure it out together.
Abilities[]
- Skilled Combatant: While not trained in professional martial arts, Shawn is an extremely powerful and dangerous fighter due to spending years in juvie. He usually fights with his friends at his side, but he is more than capable of taking on a highly skilled opponent like Robby in a one-on-one match. With his massive size and immense strength combined with his very aggressive fighting style, Shawn was the most dangerous opponent Robby had faced before Kwon Jae-Sung and Axel Kovacevic came into the picture.
- Strength: Shawn’s most valuable asset is his immense size and physical strength. He is bigger than most of the guys in juvie, and can easily throw the other inmates around like paperweights when he fights them. A recent example is during the batting cage match where Shawn effortlessly throws Robby through the air and with considerable force.
- Intimidation: Shawn is a very scary individual, who makes bullies like Kyler Park and Tory Nichols seem like saints by comparison. Despite Kyler and Tory proving themselves to be ruthless and having no problem severely hurting their opponents in order to win, they don’t typically do that, whereas Shawn looks for every chance possible to injure people. Shawn commands an intimidating presence, and no one dares to mess with him; in a similar manner to Kwon Jae-Sung. Robby referred to Shawn as one of the toughest guys in juvie.
